WA: Jensen says he has good grounds for appeal

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2006
WA: Jensen says he has good grounds for appeal

By Liza Kappelle

PERTH, Aug 24 AAP - Federal Liberal MP Dennis Jensen is challenging his shock disendorsement
in Perth, saying he's been assured he has good grounds for an appeal.

Dr Jensen, 44, lost his party's endorsement on Tuesday for the southern Perth seat
of Tangney to Matt Brown, a one-time chief of staff to former defence minister Robert
Hill.

The South African-born physicist won the blue-ribbon seat in Perth in 2004 after former
communications minister and attorney general Daryl Williams stepped down.

Dr Jensen said he would lodge an appeal against his disendorsement with the Liberal
Party tomorrow, and hoped his case would be heard next week.

"I have got grounds because there were numerous irregularities," Dr Jensen said today
of the preselection process.

He would not say what the irregularities were, but said he had been told his grounds
for appeal were good.

Dr Jensen said the dumping had come as a shock.

He described the situation as "highly unusual" but urged his supporters to remain calm.

"I know that there are a lot of people that are very angry on my behalf," he said.

"But having said that we need everyone to calm down and make sure that we go through
this process in a logical way so that it is not damaging to the party."

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday told journalists he was sorry to hear Dr Jensen
had been ousted.

The West Australian federal MP said today he was aware he had the prime minister's
support prior to the preselection.

"Obviously the prime minister is staying out of this as he should do," Dr Jensen said.

AAP lk/evt/sp

KEYWORD: JENSEN

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